In the pavilion on the mountain, the smile suddenly disappeared from the Northern Qi Emperor's face. It recovered its usual seriousness. He had grown up in the Royal Palace. When his father died, he had faced the most difficult test in his life. With the powerful support of Imperial Advisor Ku He, the empress dowager managed to support him through that hardship. This kind of beginning destined his reign as a monarch to be unusually rough.
There were many reasons for things being rough. The most important one was a secret kept in his heart, the empress dowager's heart, and Imperial Advisor Ku He's heart.
